The Hemp Connection:
dietitian

Just wanted to welcome Lesli Bitel-Koskela to the inCYST Network. She is a dietitian practicing in Long Grove, Illinois.

Lesli Koskela. RD, LDN is a registered dietitian/licensed nutritionist and the owner of the private practice and nutrition consulting business, Harmonic Nutrition & Wellness, LLC. She provides medical nutrition therapy and lifestyle coaching services to individuals, families and corporations with a focus on long-term behavior change.
In her work, Lesli takes a highly personalized, integrative and non-diet approach to designed to empower her clients in achieving a balanced and healthy relationship with eating and exercise.

Lesli uses a variety of nutrition intervention and coaching strategies designed to support her clients in meeting their goals. She is a certified food sensitivity and food allergy therapist, lifestyle and wellness coach, weight management specialist and mindful eating expert. Additionally, Lesli has earned an advanced certification in Weight Management in Children and Adolescents through The American Dietetic Association.

Lesli has been a registered dietitian for over twenty two years and draws upon a wide range of experience in several health care settings. She was a clinical dietitian at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago with an emphasis on corporate wellness, eating disorders, oncology & spinal cord injury nutrition and as a business director within the pharmaceutical industry.

I know Lesli and our other Chicago contact, Anna Ahlborn, have met to discuss how they can be of service to women in their area who could benefit from their expertise.

Please contact Lesli if you would like to start on an individualized nutrition program that can help you on the path toward better hormone balance…and feeling better!

Harmonic Nutrition and Wellness, LLC
847-381-5947

As always, quality time spent with Cysters and inCYSTers humbles and inspires. Marie Mariano, RD, LDN, CDE, just shared a poignant life story about PCOS, infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy, and purposeful living that I encourage anyone who can relate to those words, to take the time to listen to. Thanks, Marie, for your gr ace, strength, and dedication. Hugs and love to you!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/incystforhormones/2010/10/18/meet-marie-mariano-rd-ldn-cde-cyster-incyster-pcos-activist

Thank you to Christine Marquette and Michael Keele for such an informative program this morning!

If you're interested in hearing our discussions about vegetarian eating, home design for better health, and farmer's markets, please visit our show archives. It is the second show on the list. (I'm still learning how to work the software and didn't properly title it.)

Rachel Brandeis is a dietitian in our network, practicing in the Atlanta area. She is well respected in the reproductive medicine world, and well versed in PCOS. The other day, in a phone conversation, she mentioned that one of the aspects of her work that doesn't always allow her to be as productive and helpful to her clients, is when they come unprepared and unready to get down to work. She sent me a great list of bullet points that you can use to prepare for working with your own dietitian.

Keep in mind, we tend to ask a lot of questions and stick to business! It's not because we don't care about you or your story. But since you're spending time and money to work with us, we tend to be focused on the task at hand. We also understand that a lot is riding on our advice, so we want to be sure there is time in the appointment to get our information across.

Here is what Rachel suggests:

1.Be prepared to give an accurate diet history — foods and beverages that you commonly consume; it may be helpful to keep a detailed food record for a week (including a weekend).

2. Be honest when discussing what/how/when you eat — you are paying us to help you, not to judge you!

3. Be prepared to also give an in depth weight history and past dieting attempts (both successful and unsuccessful).

4. Know what medications you are taking and the dosage of each medication

5. Bring your most recent lab work with you

6. Keep an exercise diary — we need to know how frequently you exercise, how long and how intensely.

7. Be prepared to answer"what would you like to get out of this consult"

8. Understand that we don't have a"magic wand"

9. Come back for follow-up appointments! Change does not happen with one consult!

10. Have realistic expectations.

If you'd like to contact Rachel about an appointment, visit her website.